New Delhi, Jan 28 (IANS): After setting up special wards in Delhi to treat suspected coronavirus patients and to check the spread of the contagious disease, the Centre has ordered the setting up of such quarantine wards in other states, a senior official said on Tuesday.

"The Centre is taking every possible step to tackle coronavirus, for which the Health Ministry had directed all states to set up isolation wards," National Centre for Disease Control Director Sujit Kumar Singh told IANS.

Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal, and Sikkim -- adjoining Nepal -- are setting up special treatment wards, he said.

These wards have been set up in such a way that the spread of the deadly virus could be curbed.

The Health Ministry has directed the Director Generals of Police of these five states that no one entering India from Nepal in areas under their jurisdiction should be allowed in without proper screening.

Thermal screening is being done at 10 entry points on the India-Nepal border.

A meeting of Health Department officials with the Chief Secretaries and DGPs of these states was held here on Monday to discuss steps to handle suspect coronavirus cases.

Delhi's Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital too has set up a special ward to house suspected coronavirus cases.